232 teeth removed from teen's mouth: Incredible operation sets new world record

A 17-year-old boy in India had far more teeth than what is considered the norm. Doctors recently extracted 232 teeth from his mouth in a procedure that reportedly lasted 7 hours.

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In a harrowing seven-hour operation, doctors from Mumbai's JJ Hospital in India removed 232 teeth from a 17-year-old boy. Ashik Gavai had 232 teeth removed 18 months after suffering from a pain in the right side of his jaw, but his village doctors could not identify the cause. The pain increased last month, so his father, fearing that it was cancer, took him to Mumbai for treatment.

According to a July 23 BBC report, doctors described his condition as being "very rare" and also "a world record." Ashik's disease was diagnosed as complex composite odontoma, which is when one gum forms too many teeth. It is a type of benign tumor," Dr. Sunanda Dhiware, head of the dental department, told the BBC.

In carrying out the operation, which required two surgeons and two assistants, the medical team had to use a chisel and hammer to open the solid 'marble-like' growth.

“We thought it may be a simple surgery but once we opened it there were multiple pearl-like teeth inside the jaw bone.” said Dr. Dhiware.

The doctor said the operation represented a world record, because according to the documentation of similar cases, the maximum was 37 extracted teeth.

Dhiware expressed that, in her 30-year career, she had never seen anything like it. The teen, who has been left with 28 teeth, will need regular check-ups to ensure the tumor does not return, The Telegraph wrote. The surgeon also explained that although 232 teeth were removed , the procedure did not affect his jawbone structure, so it should heal without deformities.

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Christian Savoy has extensive experience in the field of journalism. He received a B.A. in journalism years ago and has been freelance writing online for some time. Please feel free to contact him with any questions you might have.

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